Great Grey Owl: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Owl Week · day 7 of 7

Five facts

1. A great grey owl can hear prey moving under 60 cm of snow, then crash down through the snow to grab it.
2. No raptor has a bigger facial disc than the great grey owl. The disc gathers sound, and its uneven ears help pinpoint prey.
3. Great grey owls do not build nests. They use old nests of big birds such as raptors, or broken-topped trees and tree cavities.
4. In a great grey owl pair, the male does the hunting for the whole family while the female guards the eggs and chicks.
5. At 3 to 4 weeks old, owl chicks jump or fall from the nest, then climb back into the trees using their beak and feet.

The quiz

1. How deep under snow can a great grey owl hear its prey?

• 20 cm
• 60 cm (correct)
• 100 cm
• 150 cm

It can hear prey moving under 60 cm of snow.

2. What does the great grey owl's large facial disc do?

• It warms its face
• It scares rivals
• It shades its eyes
• It focuses sound (correct)

The facial disc focuses sound to help find prey.

3. Where do great grey owls nest?

• In old nests of large birds (correct)
• In nests they weave from twigs
• In underground burrows
• On bare cliff ledges

They do not build nests and use old nests of big birds or tree cavities.

4. Who does the hunting for a great grey owl family?

• The female
• The chicks
• The male (correct)
• Both equally

The male hunts for the whole family while the female guards the eggs and chicks.

5. How do owl chicks get back into the trees after falling?

• Their parents carry them
• Using their beak and feet (correct)
• By flying straight up
• They never go back

They climb back into the trees using their beak and feet.

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